LIPOPROTEIN(A) LEVELS AMONG HISPANIC/LATINO INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES: RESULTS FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDY/STUDY OF LATINOS (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract

Background Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a strongly genetically determined risk-enhancing factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); however, the Lp(a) distribution among Hispanic/Latino (H/L) individuals residing in the United States (US) is unknown. Methods The HCHS/SOL is a representative sample of the heterogenous H/L population in the US. Lp(a) molar concentration was measured in 16,117 participants (52% Female, mean 41 years old) by a particle-enhanced turbidimetric assay with minimized sensitivity to apo(a) size variation (Tina-quant Gen 2, Roche). Lp(a) quintiles (Q) were compared by ANOVA among key demographics and by genetic ancestry (% West African, Amerindian, European). Sampling weights and surveys methods were used to account for the complex HCHS/SOL design. Results The 80th percentile for Lp(a) in HCHS/SOL was 77 nmol/L (median 19.7 nmol/L, Figure). Women had higher median Lp(a) than male (22.1 nmol/L vs 17.8 nmol/L; p <0.001). Across H/L heritage groups, there was significant heterogeneity in median Lp(a) ranging from 12 to 41 nmol/L in those reporting a Mexican versus Dominican background. From Q1 to Q5 of Lp(a), median West African genetic ancestry increased from 5.5% to 12.1%, while Amerindian ancestry decreased from 32.8% to 10.7% (p<0.001 for both). Conclusion Differences in Lp(a) distribution across the diverse US H/L population may carry important implications for the use of Lp(a) thresholds in ASCVD risk assessment for this group. [Formula presented]